To celebrate 100 years of boldness and creativity at the service of freedom of movement, Citroën was duty bound to present a spectacular object, a true UFO in the automotive sector. 19_19 Concept is a disruptive Citroën manifesto that rewrites the rulebook and illustrates a vision of mobility that is deliberately unconventional, future looking and constraint-free. Boasting exceptional proportions for the automotive segment, and inspired by the worlds of aviation and interior design, 19_19 Concept is immediately recognisable through its pure and streamlined shapes and its consummately worked technological details, and through the various ways in which it can be interpreted.
19_19 Concept is largely inspired by aviation, a field in which aerodynamics and attention to detail are of prime importance. On the first gaze, 19_19 Concept stands out through its utterly original body styling – powerful and magnetic – that can be interpreted in several different ways. The design language is new and hyper-expressive, rewriting the traditional codes of autonomous electric cars. The exterior design of 19_19 Concept can be broken down into several layers: a fully-glazed suspended cabin; oversized wheels; and a subframe showcasing the electric drive train and suspension. The exceptional body design of 19_19 Concept resembles the fuselage of an aircraft and the transparent bubble of a helicopter. The capsule levitates above four “Super Tall and Narrow” wheels, promising the comfort of a magic carpet ride, with the passengers borne along by a car that appears to fly over the road.
Boasting a powerful and authoritative road stance with the four wheels set squarely on the far corners of the body, 19_19 Concept impresses with its lengthy, 3.10 m wheelbase that makes room for an oversized battery. The cabin appears to float above the four wheels, the suspension forming the interface and link between the cabin and the wheels. The concept car features an innovative suspension with Progressive Hydraulic Cushions® and a smart active control system, Citroën having always sought to make its cars “magic carpets”. The suspension system is visible and signified, showcased within the cabin. “With 19_19 Concept, we sought to rewrite the automotive rule book with a high-impact vehicle featuring a strong and powerful design inspired by the world of aviation. As an aerodynamic and technological comfort bubble floating above the road, 19_19 Concept showcases details like the new-generation light signatures, the aerodynamic appendices and the wheels developed by Goodyear”, said Pierre Leclercq, Head of Citroën Design.
19_19 Concept takes comfort to a whole new level by making the cabin a true living room. In a certain respect, the cabin is an extension of the passenger’s home, a place where they feel just as comfortable and relaxed, in an atmosphere of silence and calm. The living room theme is magnified. A dream living room is a collection of beautiful objects, a unique ensemble of different objects, different materials and sometimes different styles. As in a living room, comprising a sofa, a chaise longue, ottomans, reading armchairs and furniture separating several spaces, each seat in the cabin is special and offers a different experience and different postural comfort according to the desires of the occupants. The cabin offers several ways of experiencing the Citroën Advanced Comfort® programme, the occupants entering different dimensions depending on the seat.
